Soldiers in Costa Maya, Cozumel?

[karana]

My DH told me today that a coworker just returned from a Carnival cruise (ironically the "Dream"- their new ship whose home base is also Port Canaveral) with a port stop in Costa Maya and Cozumel. Apparantly the soldiers were in Costa Maya in full combat gear.

We will be in Cozumel on our Oct. 30th Western and wondered if any cruisers saw this in Cozumel recently.

We plan to take a taxi to the national park (Chakanuub??) and wondered if the presence of soldiers is an indication of increased crime in the area or just making us tourists feel better.

 

[MichaelG]

In Mexico, there are soldiers (and Police dressed like we expect soldiers dressed) with M-16s everywhere. It's not uncommon to see these guys standing in the back of a pick up traveling in groups (4,5 6 or more).

When you walk down through town, you can frequently see soldiers "on guard" at the old naval base (located between Jimmy's Margaritaville and the new Senor Frogs/Carlos-n-Charlies).

Not to worry. Helps keep the peace. And Cozumel is very peacful.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

sorry, this is off topic: there is a Senor Frog's and Margaritaville in Costa Maya? When we were there in '04 there was.... nuthin'

We now return to our regularly scheduled thread.

 

[CandyMandy]

Ii

In Mexico, there are soldiers (and Police dressed like we expect soldiers dressed) with M-16s everywhere. It's not uncommon to see these guys standing in the back of a pick up traveling in groups (4,5 6 or more).

When you walk down through town, you can frequently see soldiers "on guard" at the old naval base (located between Jimmy's Margaritaville and the new Senor Frogs/Carlos-n-Charlies).

Not to worry. Helps keep the peace. And Cozumel is very peacful.

The OP was asking about mainland Mexico (which is where Costa Maya is located), not a resort island like Cozumel. I have been to Costa Maya numerous times over the last decade and can tell you armed Federales are NOT prior norm there. Bottom line: people here need to start paying attention to the travel risk alerts the State Department has been releasing about Mexico. Anyone who thinks the drug related violence there is just limited to northern border or "backwater" areas is in denial.

 

[budbeerlady]

In Mexico, there are soldiers (and Police dressed like we expect soldiers dressed) with M-16s everywhere. It's not uncommon to see these guys standing in the back of a pick up traveling in groups (4,5 6 or more).

When you walk down through town, you can frequently see soldiers "on guard" at the old naval base (located between Jimmy's Margaritaville and the new Senor Frogs/Carlos-n-Charlies).

Not to worry. Helps keep the peace. And Cozumel is very peacful.

I would worry a little less about Cozumel than the rest of Mexico. Its pretty common to see armed soldiers, I have read about military checkpoints for months now on Cozumel over on cruise critics site. (We were going to take a cruise there last time and then swine flu hit. I keep up with it for kicks because I still want to go there.) Not uncommon to see them 15 yrs ago and I am sure they are everywhere now!

 

[lds0191]

We were in Costa Maya in 2005 and there were soldiers with dogs and AK47's on the dock and at the entrance to the shopping area. Heard from fellow cruisers who took an excursion to some fishing village they were stationed outside the village, also.

 

[Sir William]

I just checked the State Department travel warning posted on 10 September.

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4755.html

You can read it for yourself, but as pointed out most of the problems are in the north, though there has been a few incidents near Acapulco and elsewhere.

Cozumel doesn't appear to be in a problem area, though as a major tourist area I'd be surprised if the Mexican government didn't increase the security presence to keep it that way. Tourism is a major money-earner for Mexico and they can't afford to have the cruise ships find other ports to visit.

However, State does advise that tourists be aware of their surroundings while visiting Mexico - which they do for every country. While there may not be a drug-violence problem there is always petty thievery and the like since its assumed by most that only the rich can afford to go on a cruise.

 

[jilljill]

We went to Cancun 20 years ago and the armed Federales were all over town then. I was in Mexico City in 1977 and saw them around the city and other towns we went to that were near Mexico City.
We also saw them in Cozumel when we were there on our cruise in 2003. So this is not new.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

We were in Cozumel last December and went to Chankanaab. I didn't see anything that concerned us. Heck, I was more worried that the taxi cab might fall apart during the ride. I held on to my DD in case the door popped open. Since she was 9 at the time she was looking at me like I was crazy.

Chankanaab was beautiful. Enjoy your trip!!

And off topic, NYPD has something called a Hercules squad that was started after 9-11. They basically put them in parts of the city as a show of force. They are in full kevlar, carrying M-16s and have the police dogs. There are a bunch of them and rather terrifying the first time you run into them in a domestic city. I've gotten used to them now. But the first time I did go . They were outside my building and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go in or turn around and run home.

 

[Sir William]

And off topic, NYPD has something called a Hercules squad that was started after 9-11. They basically put them in parts of the city as a show of force. They are in full kevlar, carrying M-16s and have the police dogs. There are a bunch of them and rather terrifying the first time you run into them in a domestic city. I've gotten used to them now. But the first time I did go . They were outside my building and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go in or turn around and run home.

Makes you wonder how tourists to NYC perceived that! Then again, since many major cities of the world have an increased security presence to guard against terrorism, I imagine most of them took it in stride and felt more secure knowing there were police or security forces around to deter any attacks. I know I've seen them in Europe, Asia and the Middle East every time I've traveled in those areas in recent years.

 

[mmouse37]

As mentioned for years Cozumel and Cancun have had armed soldiers around. Once in Cancun our taxi was stopped by armed soldiers on a road and it was quite scary....we were allowed to stay in the back of the cab but the driver had to get out and open all the doors and trunk so the soldiers could take a look....all the time with their guns drawn....

We have also always seen them when we get off the ship in Cozumel.

MJ

 

[CandyMandy]

O.K., O.K., and welcome to the "Mexican Riveria!"

 

[clawmachine]

I read that unlike much of Mexico, Cozumel has an active and "legitimate" government, that places a high priority on keeping it clean and safe for tourists..

 

[PrincessTrisha]

My DH told me today that a coworker just returned from a Carnival cruise (ironically the "Dream"- their new ship whose home base is also Port Canaveral)

Why is this ironic?

 

[sayhello]

The OP was asking about mainland Mexico (which is where Costa Maya is located), not a resort island like Cozumel. I have been to Costa Maya numerous times over the last decade and can tell you armed Federales are NOT prior norm there. Bottom line: people here need to start paying attention to the travel risk alerts the State Department has been releasing about Mexico. Anyone who thinks the drug related violence there is just limited to northern border or "backwater" areas is in denial.

Actually, if you read the OP, she specifically *was* asking about Cozumel, because that's where she's cruising to on Oct 30. She'd heard it was a problem in Costa Maya, and asked if it was a problem in Cozumel, also.

Sayhello

 

[mmouse37]

Why is this ironic?

Because the Disney Dream will also be sailing from Port Canaveral.....two ships with the same name leaving from the same port.....many feel the two lines are polar opposites

MJ

 

[toddlerhouse]

I was just in Costa Maya and Cozumel last week on the Oasis (RCCL). My DH and I walked around in both ports, shopping and we had lunch. Now we didn't go any futher in Costa Maya than the shopping/pool/eating area in Costa Maya and I don't recall seeing any armed guards other than maybe a couple of police at the terminal entrance. At Cozumel, we took a taxi down to the Forum Shops and walked back toward the International Terminal ( a decent distance) and I dont' remember seeing any armed guards there either.

 

[Cmbar]

My DH told me today that a coworker just returned from a Carnival cruise (ironically the "Dream"- their new ship whose home base is also Port Canaveral) with a port stop in Costa Maya and Cozumel. Apparantly the soldiers were in Costa Maya in full combat gear.

We will be in Cozumel on our Oct. 30th Western and wondered if any cruisers saw this in Cozumel recently.

We plan to take a taxi to the national park (Chakanuub??) and wondered if the presence of soldiers is an indication of increased crime in the area or just making us tourists feel better.

Oh No,don't tell mom this, she will never get off the ship!

 

[MichaelG]

-> Oh My!" (That's what my mother would say about CandyMandy's photo). With all of the police & military I've seen on the Yucatan, I've never seen the Masked versions!

-> There really isn't much going on at costa maya (Majahual) area. I have spent a week just up the beach in a small (~6 room) hotel and only really saw the armed men along the roadside...usually at road blocks (a drive from Cancun to Majahual has many Police/Military road blocks where they may stop you and nearly always carry M-16s). In that area, there are LOTS of planes flying the coastline looking for drug runners (early morning, mid day & late). I suspect it's a bit of a problem for the government to keep drugs entering into this very thinly populated area.

-> In Cozumel, most of the military traffic is just beyond the North end of town (San Miguel) at the military base and occasionally down the main drag (water front road) in town. I've been to Cozumel nearly every year over the past 10+ years (and some times multiple times a year) & maintain it is one of the greatest places to just get away, and be safe. A testament to the greatness of the people of Cozumel is their ability to weather 30+ hours of Hurricane Wilma and be back up and running months later (considered one if not the most powerfull hurricanes in carribean history). While it doesn't have the "Vegas" look like Cancun, its a great Mexican town and has plenty of great beaches on both sides of the island.

-> The taxis, well you're probably never going to ride in a brand new taxi on this island and feel lucky if you get one with Air Conditioning! If one feels unsafe with the vehicle, just walk down to the next one in line.

my tweenty pesos

 

[f86sabjf]

we love Cozumel and have always saw a military presence but there just going about there normal military duties. Nothing to worry about.